10th Annual Farm Crawl returns Sunday

The original and the best, Farm Crawl holds its 10th edition this fall. Last year’s Farm Crawl attracted more than 2,100 visitors to our small circle of farms.

Tour eight independent family farms in south-central Iowa as they jointly host open houses from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Enjoy a leisurely autumn day “crawling” from farm to farm.

Come visit south Marion County/north Lucas County (one hour south of Des Moines) to see each individual operations. Tour the farms, visit the animals, meet the farmers, sample the goodies, discover locally grown and produced products and lots of fun in the beautiful Iowa countryside as you drive yourself from farm to farm.

At several of the host farms will be guest area businesses and farmers that produce fiber/yarn, photo cards, artisan beer, honey, desserts, sheep milk, wine and pork. Entrance to all of the farms is free. Thanks to the crawl’s major sponsors, Practical Farmers of Iowa and South Central Coop.

Visit the Farm Crawl website at www.farmcrawl.com for more details, maps and directions. No pets are allowed on this tour for the safety of our farm animals and guests, leave your animals at home.

The eight farms include:

Blue Gate Farm (Jill Beebout and Sean Skeehan) — Certified Naturally Grown, chemical-free produce, pastured eggs, handspun yarn and honey bees benefit our CSA and markets. Sample homemade jams, jellies and honey; guided tours; visit the new high tunnel, alpacas and chickens. Homemade cookies, cocoa and herb lemonade available.

Coyote Run Farm (Matt Russell and Patrick Standley) — A 110 acre farm being rebuilt to profitability through relational marketing and sustainable agriculture with chemical-free produce and cut flowers, pastured poultry and eggs, hormone-free/ grass-fed and grain-fed beef, and mules. Self-tour the farm and high tunnel. Refreshments available.

Crooked Gap Farm (Ethan and Rebecca Book) — A good representation of contemporary homesteading, the Books started their farm on a 40 acre piece, with no buildings, that had been fallow fields and timber for many years. They built a house and outbuildings and now raise grass-fed Dexter cattle, heritage breed pigs, poultry and lambs. During Farm Crawl they will have their meats available for sale.

Pierce’s Pumpkin Patch (John and Joy Pierce) — Thousands of different pumpkins, squashes, gourds, decorative corn and a shop full of Halloween celebration décor. Enjoy brisket or pork sandwiches, hotdogs and all the fixings.

Reichert’s Dairy Air (Lois and Jack Reichert) — A small goat herd, micro-dairy with custom built milking barn and cheese-making plant. Sample several varieties of delicious, award-winning, artisan cheeses and see the goat herd.

Schneider Orchard (Arnie and Jane Schneider) — Stroll through the orchard, enjoy fresh fruit pie ala-mode, apple crisp and caramel apples. Rope making demonstration. Games, activities and tractor wagon rides for the kids.

White Breast Pottery and Weaving (Sharon Seuferer and Carol Oliver) — Clay, from beneath the waters of White Breast Creek, is used in making pottery that reflects the area. View the beautiful loom-woven rugs made onsite. Visit a herd of miniature horses. Pottery, broom-making and loom demonstrations. Live music and refreshments.

Winding Brook Farm (Larry and Genie Snuggs) Farm collectibles, farm toys (in multiple scales) and farming related books on display and for sale. Also displaying several antique tractors and demonstration of vintage cream separators. Refreshments available.